Finding You Always

Heartless

Finding You Always

Chapter 13: Heartless

1000 Years Ago

Thick acrid smoke billowed into the dark sky and carnage littered the path that the royal entourage had been traveling along. All the King's Knights were dead. They hadn't really stood a chance against the Dark One and his apprentice, but nonetheless, they had defended their King and Queen to their dying breath. Flashes of magical energy illuminated the area. The King's golden energy, shooting from his staff and clashing with the rust and midnight blue colored magic of the Dark One and his apprentice respectively. The King guarded his Queen, whom was a capable warrior in her own right. But being non-magical and with child, she deferred to her husband's protection and clutched her pregnant belly protectively.

"Just give me the power staff and you and your Queen can survive," Shin demanded.

"One such as you can never understand this power, for it is born of true love," the King retorted.

"Yes, the most powerful magic of all...and I will have it!" Shin screamed.

"It cannot bring back the woman you love. Your black heart will repel this pure power," the King warned.

"I can handle any magic! With your hairs and your Queen's, I can capture the most powerful magic and add it to my collection. Dark One...defeat him so I shall harvest his immortality for my own!" Shin ordered, as he held the dagger. Xanetakos attacked and his dark magic overwhelmed the weakened King. Shin took possession of the King's staff. He placed his hand on the glowing orb and his entire body glowed golden for a moment, before fading.

"I have your power and immortality now. I am the Dragon King now," Shin stated smugly.

"Perhaps, but you'll never weaponize magic like true love," the King remarked, as he shielded his fair haired Queen.

"I only need your hairs to complete my potion...and then I'll have no use for either of you," he said, as he took his samples and watched the pinkish potion glow brightly.

"My love...the baby..." the heavily pregnant Queen cried.

"I will use the last of my magic to send our child to your homeland of Misthaven," he said.

"You'll die if you use the rest of your magic!" she cried.

"There is no escaping that for us now...but I can save our child and banish this beast with one last act," he said fiercely, as his hand glowed. He placed it on her womb and it glowed momentarily, before dissipating.

"Our child will be safe," he said, as a swirling portal opened nearby.

"What have you done!?" Shin shouted.

"You may be immortal now, but I will see you banished to a land without magic with the last of my essence, where you will not hurt another soul!" the King shouted back.

"No...Dark One...kill them!" he ordered. The Dark One's magic engulfed the royal couple and nothing remained when the tendrils of his power cleared. Shin cackled evilly, but watched in horror, as his glowing potion of true love turned to useless black liquid, dying with those it was procured from.

"No...what's happening?!" he demanded of the Dark One.

"Your potion is useless if they are dead," Xanetakos informed him.

"Then...I'll find another pair!" he ranted, as visions assaulted him, for the King had been a Seer and now he was one too.

He delved deeply into his newfound ability, trying to make sense of the images. Nearly a millennia passed before his eyes, many true loves would exist, but none would quite reach the worthy status of truest love in all the realms. Then he saw them...two that wouldn't exist for a thousand more years. But he memorized their faces, for his visions foretold theirs to become the truest love of all time. They would be born in the land of Misthaven. A raven haired princess, the fairest in the land and a humble shepherd turned charming prince. One thousand years...it would be grueling to wait, but he was immortal now. Unfortunately, in his distraction, he did not see the Dark One's betrayal until it was too late. The Dark One cackled, as he took possession of the dagger in his distraction and pushed him into the portal...